Merge and splurge: Marshs gets even more good stuff

Steven Kerman of Marshs in Huntington Photo Credit: Anne Bratskeir

It was a "bigger-and-better" celebration at Marshs in Huntington on June 3. Cause for the champagne, hors d’oeuvres, and small, very happy crowd? The merging of inventory from Thomas Miller Menswear, the longtime specialty menswear retailer from Woodbury who has joined forces with Marshs to create the ultimate haberdashery.

Miller was on hand for the gig, as well as his top sales associates who will now work at the store. There were plenty of fellas ogling the goods (more men’s stuff than ever now) that included smart suits, beautiful navy blazers and cool, casual clothes.

If you didn’t know it, Marshs’ is one of five stores -- the others in Connecticut and California --owned by the Mitchell family. The stores offer cleverly edited collections of top designer names for men and women, accessories, and – swoon – an outrageous collection of unusual jewelry.

This is one of those rare stores where a premium is placed on service and the environment fosters strong loyalty among staffers, so you pretty much always know who you’re going to be working with.

Want an example? Take Steven Kerman, 55, above, the store’s buyer for men’s sportswear and fashion, and a sales associate, who turned out for the party snazzily dressed in a hip ensemble of jeans with a checkered shirt topped by a double-breasted vest and a white linen pinstriped jacket. When he started with the company in 1969, his dad worked there. He met his wife there in December of 1975. Why the longevity? “I’ve known the family since I was five years old, they’re like family to me. And I love fashion.” And today, he’ll most happily help you look like a million bucks (you won’t have to spend nearly that much).

Check out the bigger, better menswear department. Marshs is located at 270 Main Street in Huntington.